VIKING WRESTLING by Tyr Neilsen

Vikings loved all kinds of sports, but the best loved sport in Viking Age Scandinavia, was by far, wrestling. 

Over the centuries, this traditional folk wrestling has been known by many names, fang, fangbrögð, leikfang, glíma, farmer wrestling, Scandinavian wrestling, Norwegian wrestling, and of course, Viking wrestling (vikingbryting in Norwegian). 

Whether it was as a form of physical, mental or spiritual training, as competition, or as a form of entertainment, Viking wrestling was a major part of Viking Age life. Men, women, and children trained in this sport, and whenever the people of the north gathered, at home, in a village, at a market, or at a Thing, Viking wrestling was always a major attraction. 

Viking wrestling was so important in Viking Age society, that their most popular god, Thor, was also the god of wrestling. In fact, the first written mention of Viking wresting is a Norse myth about Thor. It was written in the form of a poem and dates back to the 9th century. The poem involves Thor in a wrestling competition with a magical old woman who is actually old age. The ancient poem was written by Bragi hinn gamli Boddason and Kveldúlfr Bjálfason, who were both of Norwegian descent.

Thor wrestling with old age by Icelandic sculptor Einar Jónsson (1874 – 1954)

In 874 AD, the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson, became the first permanent settler in Iceland, according to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók (Book of Settlements). In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians, immigrated to Iceland, bringing with them their culture, and their sport wrestling and combat skills.

Norwegians settlers were very protective of their culture, and throughout the centuries, Norse traditions have been preserved and cherished in Iceland. This includes the original form of traditional Norwegian wrestling, which was documented in 13th century Eddas, Icelandic Sagas and Icelandic law books.

Icelandic Jónsbók lovboken (Jonsbok lawbook), compiled in 1281, and based on earlier Norwegian Laws,

TYPES OF VIKING WRESTLING

Icelandic sources tell us of the 3 forms of Viking wrestling; Lausatök, Hryggspenna and Brókartök. Lausatök means loose-grip/free-grip, Hryggspenna means back-hold, and Brókartök means trouser-grip.

In back-hold and trouser-grip, once the grip or hold was taken, it had to be constant. If the grip was broken during a competition, the competitor that had not held their grip, lost the match. In loose-grip, competitors were free to change grips or holds during a wrestling match.

In the 11th century, Icelandic clergy changed the name of Viking wrestling in Iceland to Glíma, which means glimpse or flash in Old Norse.

By the 19th century, the trouser-grip was the most popular form of glíma in Iceland, and there has been a national Brókartök championship since 1888. In 1905, a special leather gripping belt, tied around waist and thighs, was created, and began to be used instead of trousers. This belt, and a contemporary set of rules, led to the development of a new and unique sport called Icelandic glima, which is the national sport.

In Sweden, the original trouser-grip glima, continued to be a popular sport through the centuries, expecially with farmers. Brókartök is still the most popular form of glima in Sweden, where there has been several national glima championships.

Many regions of Scotland were under Norwegian rule or colonization until the 15th century, and many speculate that the Viking back-hold wrestling, Hryggspenna, is the ancestor of Scottish backhold wrestling, the most popular form of folk wrestling in Scotland.

Lousatök (Laustak in Norwegian) is the most popular form of traditional folk wrestling in Norway. Since the late 20th century, Norwegian Laustak techniques have been collected and codified, and in 2009, the Norwegian Laustak Federation established a standard for Laustak Sport competition rules, as well as a system for the teaching of Laustak techniques, which includes grading and certification in Sport Laustak and Combat Laustak.

There have been many Viking wrestling competitions in Norway, especially in the last 30 years. The most prestigeous of these is the Norwegian Laustak Championship.

Today, there is regular Laustak training in sports halls around the world, as well as national and international Sport Laustak competitions.

Thanks to martial artstists and reenactors, Laustak has become the most popular form of Viking wrestling in Norway, UK, Europe, South America, and USA, both as a sport and combat system!